Unemployment rate holds steady

Article |
April 22, 2013 - 11:33am

LaGrange County saw its unemployment rate remain unchanged from February to March, staying at 8.2 percent, a trend set by the statewide average, which remained at 8.7 percent for the second month in a row.

A year ago, the county rate was at 8.1 percent.

LaGrange County did see a rise in those employed in March, an increase of 65 jobs over February. The labor force numbers rose by 72 people, and unemployment was up by 7.

The March rate keeps the county well in the lower half of the statewide rankings at 65th.

Neighboring counties remain higher, with Steuben County at 9.5 percent and both Elkhart and Noble counties at 9.4 percent.

Indiana continues to do well in relationship to the nation, ranking 2nd in jobs added since July 2009, considered the low point of employment, adding 63,700 jobs. Michigan leads the ranking of jobs added, with 102,500 jobs added. The state has added 13,000 jobs in the past year, second behind Michigan, which reported an additional 15,700 jobs in the last 12 months.

Indiana also ranks second in the rate of growth since July 2009, again behind Michigan, at 14.9 percent.